Reacher has returned for its second season with Alan Ritchson reprising his role as the titular main character. Building on the entertaining but arguably overlooked first season, Reacher teams up with former members of his disbanded military police unit to investigate the suspicious death of their colleague, Calvin Franz. This season delves into a murky world of corporate conspiracy and defense contracts and introduces a slew of new characters, including the oft-mentioned Swan. But who is Swan?
While Reacher is renowned for its thrilling action sequences, the portrayal of intricate and multi-layered conspiracies adds a surprising level of complexity. This complexity can be challenging to follow, leading to moments where it’s easy to lose track of the various characters and names thrown into the mix.
Season 2 focuses heavily on New Age Technologies, a company linked somehow to Franz’s murder. It is revealed during the course of the first four episodes that a character called Swan is somehow involved with the company. He is talked about frequently among Reacher and his comrades. However, if you’ve lost track of certain plot developments in the season, you may be confused about who Swan is and why he’s important.
Who is Tony Swan?
Major Tony Swan was a member of Jack Reacher’s 110th MP Special Investigations Unit in the U.S. Army. He is shown in multiple flashbacks during season 2 of Reacher and, as of episode 4 “A Night at the Symphony”, is working as Assistant Director of Security at New Age Technologies.
This links him closely to a conspiracy surrounding the Little Wing defense contract and suggests he could be involved with the attempts to kill off members of Reacher’s former unit. Swan’s whereabouts and status are unknown – his home was discovered mysteriously abandoned early in season 2 and his dog was left to die from dehydration. This alarmed Reacher who believed Swan would never abandon his dog.
It is revealed in a flashback that Swan once raised the suspicions of his colleagues when they seized 48 bricks heroin but one went missing. It was later found, by Swan, under the back seat of his car. He explained this to Reacher and Neagley by saying it must have slipped down there during transportation, however Neagley appeared to be unconvinced.
During another flashback, Swan is shown to be able to play guitar. He states that he has a “lighter” taste in music and apparently dislikes Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and The Who.
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